Today’s devotion comes from 2 John 1:7-13.
“7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.
13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.” 2 John 1:7-13.
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Today’s Scripture teaches the importance of sound doctrine which helps us to “abide in the teaching of Christ“. Verse 9.
Deceivers don’t come up to us dressed in red suits with horns. Deceivers don’t just preach and teach flat out lies.
Deceivers appear righteous. Deceivers lead with the truth to get us to accept them. Then, over time, they secretly insert false teaching into what seems acceptable as subtle as a baker may insert a little leaven in a batch of dough. But, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” Galatians 5:9.
Doctrine simply means teachings. There can be true doctrine also known as sound doctrine. There can be false doctrine.
Sound doctrine is like a bright white sheet of paper against which we can lay the questionable teaching. We may not tell that the teaching is “off color” by itself, but when we lay it against the white paper, then we can tell it is “off color”.
Sound doctrine is like a ship in which we can ride out the waves of black, swirling waves of deception. If we “jump ship” to swim on our own, then we will perish. But, if we stay within the ship, then we can survive.
False doctrine is not harmless. Jesus stated: “‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’” Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1
“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;” Ephesians 4:14
We need preachers and teachers “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” Titus 1:9
“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 1 Timothy 4:6
I was blessed that a Christian brother did remind me of sound doctrine, You likely heard of my testimony, but it is appropriate to repeat it.
“Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed church with my family having deep Reformed roots, I moved to an area of the country which had few Reformed churches. For almost 20 years, I attended, was a member, and even a lay leader in a wide-range of churches from Assembly of God to Calvary Chapel to Baptist to a very large United Methodist church to a small nondenominational “fellowship” to “community” churches. Some of these churches did not label their doctrine as Arminian. I was disturbed by some of the sermons, but I could not pinpoint what was wrong. Often, I thought the problem was just the particular minister. Eventually, a friend asked me if I remembered “TULIP”, the acronym for the Five Points of Calvinism which is the most important part of Reformed Doctrine. I began to study the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism. I then understood that it was Arminian doctrine presented in some of these churches. I began to realize more and more the importance of Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism.”
Therefore, let us encourage and exhort each other with such sound doctrine. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
Here are links to four creeds of sound doctrine.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 